Elder Abuse Identification and Intervention

Elder abuse is a significant societal and public health concern that has been associated with a loss of financial independence, reduced overall well-being, and higher rates of mortality. Dementia and cognitive impairment are the most salient risk factors for elder abuse. Clinical neuropsychologists may be the first clinical providers that are able to determine whether an older adult is being abused or at risk of being abused and thus have a unique opportunity to intervene and address this devastating problem. To this end, this chapter will describe the various forms that elder abuse may take, provide recommendations for elder abuse screening specifically within the context of the neuropsychological evaluation, and provide guidelines for reporting of elder abuse that will maximize the chances of having a positive outcome for the patient.